Blast valve



D. BACLINI BLAST VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1964 INVENTOR. .04 W0 EAaU/V/ BY i/ 4rraeMrX5 Aa' 5,1969 D. BACLINI 3,459,114

BLA S T VALVE Filed June 15, 1 964 3 Sheets-Sheet} FIG. 3

Will/III) INVENTOR. fim m 54a 0w JMLM'QV I D. BACLINI BLAST VALVE Adg. 5', 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1964 INVENTOR 04 W0 54a /A// United States Patent 3,459,114 BLAST VALVE David Baelini, 8502 th Ave, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11228 Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 374,980 int. Cl. F23] 17/00 US. (31. 98119 10 Claims The invention relates to the class or valves and more particularly to a blast valve for an underground structure designed to permit the flow of air into the underground structure and the discharge of exhaust air and other products of combustion to the atmosphere. The blast valve is adapted to be located below grade in the exterior wall of a building which leads into an air intake or discharge shaft. Depending upon the size of the installation, there may be one or several valves adapted to operate together.

In the past, various types of valves and mechanisms had been designed to permit for the intake of air into an underground building and the outlet of exhaust and other products of combustion to the atmosphere from such building. However, with the advent of the atomic bomb and the concept of nuclear warfare, it has been a serious problem to obtain an adequate valve which may be closed automatically by a suitable signal such as a visual pickup of an atomic explosion by photosensitive relays, or by other automatically or manually induced electrical impulses, yet which is provided with means to permit for the operation of the valve and the closure thereof when there is a higher outside air pressure such as caused by a shock wave, so that the blast valve will be fail-safe and will provide a suitable degree of protection from blast and contamination as the building itself, even when the valve is not triggered automatically or closed manually.

In the past, various types of blast valves have been produced, but these have failed to prove satisfactory because of the fact that they were not easy to reset, manually or automatically. In these prior art blast valves there was no positive means of holding the valve in a closed position once it had been actuated, and there was no positive provision for fail-safe operation should the automatic or manual operation be ineffective to close the valve in time so that differential pressure, such as the higher outside air pressure caused by a shock wave would close the valve.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior blast valves, the present invention includes the concept of providing an effective arrangement of parts mounted within an outer intake tube which is anchored in the concrete exterior wall, which leads to an air intake or discharge shaft. This tube has suitably arranged therein a housing and a hollow shaft is longitudinally slidably mounted in the housing. A closure plate is fitted on the shaft and is adapted to engage in sealing relationship with the tube when the blast valve is in a closed position. In order to provide for a fail-safe operation, the closure plate is slidably mounted on the hollow shaft by means of a helical coil spring within the hollow shaft. A second helical coil spring is disposed about the shaft and normally urges the shaft inwardly of the housing so as to urge the closure plate against the tube. There is provided a trigger and latching mechanism for holding the valve in an open position until either automatic or manual signals are provided for releasing the trigger so that the shaft and closure plate may move into the closed position. There is further provided latching means for engaging and holding the shaft in a closed position until it is ready to be reset. In order to accomplish these functions there is provided a slide bar and latch, the slide bar camming the latch from its engaged position into an open position. The latch engages the same collar disposed about the shaft which is engaged by the outer helical coil spring which urges the shaft and closure plate into the closed position.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a blast valve that is effective in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and capable of installation in various types of structures, such as underground fortresses, communications installations, and control centers, as well as atomic bomb shelters and the like.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this blast valve, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blast valve constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the blast valve illustrating the blast valve as installed in a concrete exterior Wall, with the valve being shown in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view in an enlarged scale illustrating the seal between the tube and the closure plate;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view of the mechanism of the blast valve illustrating the closure plate in a closed position after actuation of the trigger mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view of portions of the blast valve illustrating the closure plate in a closed position by operation due to a higher outside air pressure, such as is caused by a shock wave; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view, taken along the plane of line 66 in FIG. 4.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates an exterior wall of any suitable structure or building which may lead into an intake or discharge shaft, and which wall is made of concrete or like material. The blast valve generally indicated by reference numeral 12 is disposed within the opening 14 provided in the exterior wall 10. This blast valve includes an intake tube 16, which is mounted within the opening 14 by a suitable anchoring framework, including frame members 18, 20 and anchoring bolts 22, 24, etc. The anchoring framework further includes vertical web plates 26 together with the horizontal web plates 28 which form a supporting grid to which the housing 3%} is secured by mounting plates 32 or the like.

The housing 30 is hollow and is provided with restricted portions 34 and 36 within which linear ball bushings 38 and 4% are mounted for longitudinally axially slidably mounting a hollow shaft 4-2. The linear ball bushings 38 and 4%) are held in place by seals 44 and 46. The seals 44 and 46 may be made of rubber or in cases where the blast valve is to be subjected to high temperatures and expected high heat areas, these seals may be formed of cast iron. The shaft 42 is tubular in shape and has an outer enclosure plug 48. At the inner end there is provided a closure block 59 which has a latch block 52 adjustably secured thereto as by threads or the like. A hub assembly 54 is slidably mounted adjacent the outer end of the shaft 42 and includes a cylindrical portion 56 in sliding engagement with the shaft, having a flange 58, which extends peripherally outwardly therefrom. The hub 54 is provided with a suitable sleeve 66 of bearing material, and end pieces 62 may be provided at the outermost ends of the hub.

Secured to the flange 58 as by bolts 64 or the like is a closure plate 66. The closure plate is provided with a dovetail-shaped groove 68 therein for reception of a gasket 70 of dovetail shape in cross section, which is designed to engage the tube 16 to provide a seal and complete closure for the blast valve so as to prevent inlet of air or fallout material or the like into the interior of the building having the wall 10.

The shaft 42 is provided with a pair of elongated longitudinally extending slots 74 therein within which a pin 76 rides. The pin passes through the shaft and is fixed within the hub 54.

Fixed on the shaft 42 is a collar 80 having a detent 81. The collar is held in place by a pin 82. Discs 84 and 86 are disposed within the shaft and abut against the pins 82 and 76 respectively and are biased by a spring 88. The spring 88 is normally under very slight compression and serves to normally urge the hub 54 and hence the closure plate 66 to its outermost position such as shown in FIG. 2. However, when there is a higher outer air pressure, such as induced by a shock wave from a nuclear explosion, the pressure on the closure plate 66 will cause the plate 66 to move inwardly to the closed position as shown in FIG. compressing the spring 88. As soon as the differential pressure has been equalized, the energy stored in the spring 88 will return the hub and hence the closure plate 66 to its open position.

Disposed about the shaft 42 and concentrically with respect to the helical spring 88 is an outer helical coil spring 90 which yieldingly engages the collar 80 and a ring 92 fixed to the constricted portion 34 of the housing 30. The spring 90 is very much stronger than the spring 88 and is under compression. It is under highest compression when the valve is in the open position as shown in FIG. 2. The spring 90 continuously urges the shaft 42 inwardly to close the valve, but is held in its compressed position by the triggering assembly, generally indicated at 94. This triggering assembly includes a trigger arm 96 pivotally mounted as at 98 and a release latch 100 pivotally mounted at 102.

The trigger arm 96 includes an upper portion 101 including two bifurcated members 103 which carry a roller 104 journalled for rotation. The roller 104 is adapted to engage a cam surface 106 formed in the underside of the block 50 and adapted to roll along the underside of the shaft 42. A coil spring 108 is secured to the trigger arm and to a vertical web plate 26 so as to continuously urge the trigger arm to the position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At the lowermost end of the downwardly and angularly extending portion 110 is a pin 112 which is adapted to be engaged by the hook-like end 114 of the release latch 100. The release latch has a horizontally ex-. tending end portion 118 carrying a horizontal detent 120 from which an adjustable engaging block 121 depends, the block being adapted to be adjusted in height in a threaded manner and to engage a cam 122 on a cam shaft 124 which is actuated by a solenoid triggering box 126. The cam shaft 124 has an operating-end 128 engaged by the plunger 130 of the solenoid triggering box 126, which is actuated by a signal from an external source or from a manually operated switch. The cam shaft 124 is journalled in trunnions or bearings 132, 134 mounted adjacent the wall 10.

Journalled in trunnions or bearings 140, 142 is a lever arm shaft 144 which is driven by a gearhead motor drive mechanism 146 of suitable design so as to control the operation of the shaft 144 to a predetermined amount of rotation, such as 55 degrees. A lever arm 150 is keyed at 151 to the lever arm shaft 144. The lever arm 150 carries a roller 152 between its bifurcated portions 154 at the lower end of the lever arm 150. The roller 152 is adapted to engage the adjustable head 52 of the block 50. A pin 160 is fixed in the lever arm 150 and rides in a slot 152 in the head 164 on a slide bar 166, mounted within suitable guide blocks 168 which constrain the motion thereof to a substantially horizontal motion. The

outermost end of the slide bar 166 is provided with a cam surface 170 adapted to engage a latch 172 pivotally mounted as at 142 and normally urged by means of a spring 176 to the engaged position as is shown in FIG. 4. However, with the slide bar 166 in the position as is shown in FIG. 3, the lower surface of the guide bar will cam the latch 172 up through a slot 180 in the housing 30. The latch 172 is provided with a hook end 182 adapted to engage the detents 81 on the collar to hold the collar 80 and hence the closure plate 66 in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 4.

The solenoid triggering box 126 is adapted to be connected to suitable sensing devices which actuate a relay, not shown, which sends its current to the solenoid triggering box 126. These sensing relays may be in the form of photoelectric cells, main control panels, or other automatic sensing devices or manual switching devices as desired.

It is to be recognized that the position of the valve may be shown on a main indicator panel, not shown, by suitable microswitches as indicated at 190, the operation of which is controlled by the movements of the various parts of the valves. These switches may be used to indicate whether a blast valve is open or closed.

In operation, and with the valve in the open position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring is in compression and the valve is held in the open position by the trigger arm 96 which prevents the valve shaft 42 from moving to a closed position. When actuated, either manually or automatically, the solenoid plunger 128 serves to rotate the shaft 124 turning the cam 122 which actuates the release latch 100, thereby releasing the trigger arm 96 and permitting the spring 90 to move the closure plate 66 toward the ring 70 closing the blast valve. The shaft 42 will press against the roller 154 of the lever arm and rotate the shaft 144, close a limit switch, not shown, and to start an automatic timer, not shown. This timing device is for use in automatically reopening the valves by the electric gear motor drive 146. After a preset interval on the timer, the gear motor drive unit 146 is started. This gear motor unit will then turn through a predetermined are, such as 55 degrees, causing the lever arm 150 to press the shaft inwardly and recompress the spring. As the lever arm 150 is rotated, it will push the guide bar 166 inwardly camming the latch 172 out of engagement with the detent 81 in which position it had held the blast valve in a closed position.

This gear motor unit 146 will then return to its starting position since a limit switch will be actuated reversing the motor unit. After return to the starting position the motor is stopped through action of another limit switch.

In instances where automatic or manual actuation fails, the second and much weaker spring 88, which is in a substantially slack position when the valve is open, will be compressed when a higher outside air pressure, such as results from a shock wave of a nuclear explosion is applied at the closure plate 66 to close the valve. The valve will then stay closed, until the inside and outside pressures are equalized and then will move back to its open position automatically.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A blast valve comprising an outer tube, a housing in said tube, a shaft slidably mounted in said housing, a closure plate slidably mounted on said shaft, resilient means normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, spring means for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, trigger means engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, release latch means engaging said trigger means for holding and selectively releasing said trigger means, cam means for actuating said release latch means, lever means engagable with said shaft for resetting said shaft, and valve latching means connected to said lever means for latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

2. A blast valve comprising an outer intake tube, a housing fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing, a closure plate, hub means slidably mounting said closure plate on said shaft, resilient means in said shaft normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, a collar fixed to said shaft, spring means under compression disposed about said shaft engaging said collar for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, lever means engageable with said shaft for resetting said shaft, and valve latching means connected to said lever means for latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

3. A blast valve comprising an outer intake tube, a housing fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing, a closure plate, a hub slidably mounted on said shaft, pin means securing said closure plate to said hub and slidably mounting said closure plate on said shaft, an inner helical coil spring disposed in said shaft normally engaging said pin means for urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, a collar fixed to said shaft, an outer helical coil spring under compression disposed about said shaft engaging said collar for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, lever means engageable with said shaft for resetting said shaft and valve latching means connected to said lever means for engaging said collar on said shaft and hence holding said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

4. A blast valve according to claim 3, including a resilient peripheral gasket of dovetail cross sectional shape secured to said closure plate and engageable with said tube to form a seal.

5. A blast valve comprising an outer intake tube, a housing fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing, a closure plate, hub means slidably mounting said closure plate on one end of said shaft, a block on this other end of said shaft, resilient means in said shaft normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, a collar fixed to said shaft within said housing, spring means under compression disposed about said shaft engaging said collar for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, a swingably mounted lever having a roller thereon engageable with said block for resetting said shaft upon rotation of said lever to push said shaft outwardly of said housing, and valve latching means connected to said lever means for latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

6. A blast valve according to claim 5 wherein said valve latching means engages said collar.

7. A blast valve comprising an outer tube, a housing fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing, a closure plate, hu-b means slidably mounting said closure plate on said shaft, resilient means normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, spring means under compression for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, lever means engageable with said shaft for resetting said shaft, and valve latching means connected to said lever means for latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

8. A blast valve for admitting air in through a concrete wall having an opening therein comprising an outer intake tube secured in said opening, a housing assembly fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing assembly, a closure plate, hub means slidably mounting said closure plate on said shaft, resilient means in said shaft normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, a collar fixed to said shaft, spring means under compression disposed about said shaft engaging said collar for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube to seal said opening, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, lever means engageable with said shaft for resetting said shaft, a slide bar connected to said lever means, and a valve latch connected to said slide bar for latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation.

'9. A blast valve according to claim 8, including guide means on said housing assembly engaging said slide bar to control the movement of said slide bar along a predetermined path, said slide bar having a cam surface for engaging said valve latch.

10. A blast valve comprising an outer tube, a housing fixed in said tube, a hollow shaft longitudinally slidably mounted in said housing a closure plate, hub means slidably mounting said closure plate on said shaft, an inner helical coil spring in said shaft normally urging said closure plate outwardly away from said tube, a collar fixed to said shaft, an outer helical coil spring under compression disposed about said shaft engaging said collar for urging said shaft inwardly of said housing to press said closure plate against said tube, a pivoted trigger arm engaging said shaft for selectively preventing inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, a pivotally mounted release latch engaging said trigger arm for holding and selectively releasing said trigger arm, cam means for actuating said release latch, latching means connected to said lever means for engaging said collar and latching said shaft and hence said closure plate in a closed position after actuation, and resetting means engageable With said shaft for returning said shaft to an opened position and compressing said outer helical coil spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,143 11/1935 Mottershall 98ll9 2,989,988 6/1961 Rudelick 25l-67 XR 3,064,552 11/ 1962 Ehrsom et al 98ll9 3,140,648 7/1964 Bergman et al 98ll9 3,173,356 3/1965 Schierse et a1. 98ll9 FRED C. MATTERN, IR., Primary Examiner MANUEL ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 251-67 

1. A BLAST VALVE COMPRISING AN OUTER TUBE, A HOUSING IN SAID TUBE, A SHAFT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING A CLOSURE PLATE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID CLOSURE PLATE OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID TUBE, SPRING MEANS FOR URGING SAID SHAFT INWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING TO PRESS SAID CLOSURE PLATE AGAINST SAID TUBE, TRIGGER MEANS ENGAGING SAID SHAFT FOR SELECTIVELY PREVENTING INWARD LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF 